Spinoza

22 hours ago, NickelChip said:

In case you would find this helpful, Dr. Weiner's bariatric practice in Tucson, AZ has started a virtual nutrition support program that is open to anyone, no matter where you live or where you had surgery. You get unlimited access to monthly classes and support groups for $50 a month, and members can book a personal appointment with the dietician, Zoe, for $20 per session. Since you don't have anyone you can rely on from your surgeon's office, maybe this would be a useful resource. Here's their link: https://www.poundofcureweightloss.com/nutrition-counseling-memberships/

Oh that is so helpful - thank you! I really rate this doctor and I expect the program will be helpful.

OP you haven't filled in the stats in your profile. What procedure did you have? What are your starting and current weights? Are you close to your goal or wanting to lose a lot more weight?

I agree with everyone else - our macro goals and weight loss goals depend on where we are, where we want to be and lots of other variables.

I wish you lots of luck on your journey.

Yes of course, we're all on completely different journeys.

Can I just check what you mean by 'healthier' and 'alternative'? I haven't looked at the nutritional information so please excuse me if they aren't processed carbs - I may have jumped to conclusions!

We all want to help one another here. If they're complex non processed carbs I'd be very interested. 🤩

Carbs are generally delicious, especially processed carbs. But they're what made most of us obese in the first place.

As an occasional treat when maintaining I'm sure these Bagels might be fine, but in the months after WLS it might be better to focus on Protein, veg and fruit with a tiny portion of complex carbohydrate if you need or want it (which you may well find you don't).

There are essential fatty acids and essential amino acids that we simply cannot make for ourselves and HAVE to get from food, but there aren't any essential carbs!

Oh I was just full on starving on day one of my pre op diet! hope you're doing OK. It settled around day 4 or 5 when I got into ketosis and after that I could relax a little.

After your surgery is when you really see the difference I think. I was a lucky person whose hunger didn't return for many months but when it did I knew the difference.

I agree with the others - if you can use the time you get to retrain your body to expect wholesome nutritious foods then you should do really well.

I wish you the best of luck. It's a hell of a ride.

They sounds great. I live in Ireland so I haven't seen them. I prepare 90% of my meals from scratch - I love cooking and I have children so it's so much cheaper that way! It didn't take much tweaking for them to get what they liked and me to get what I needed in the months after surgery.

I could see this sort of thing being super handy when you're out and about or just to have a healthier option when your partner is eating differently. I am like you - hate waste!

Oh so very frustrating. I'm sorry. Hoping against hope that the scope is OK and you can go with your first choice. But perhaps better that you have as much info as possible beforehand? Not exactly a stellar performance from your surgeon!

On 3/19/2024 at 2:22 AM, ShooterInTheSix said:

I just spent the past six days on business half way across the country. Flying didn't require a seat belt extension - and on the return flight, I was in a middle seat without issue.

The best though, was a couple of days ago when I got into an Uber and asked the driver if he could move the front seat forward. He apologized and said, "I'm sorry. I had a heavy person and he had to put the seat all the way back." He could never have known that 6 months and 85lbs ago it's very likely that I would have been that guy in the front seat.

Oh it's fab to se your loss OP! Joyous actually. Enjoy those size 38 jeans and look forward to the 36s and the 34s. Welcome to the rest of your life.

3 hours ago, ms.sss said:

today's breakfast-lunch:

a plate of various things (clockwise from top): brie, jelly/jam, slices of that bread i baked the other do further baked into some crostini, more juejed up labneh, and a crazy delicious foie gras pate (so very rich though, so couldn't eat alot of it...)

622 calories for the whole thing...u can see what i ate.

Looks absolutely delish!

Total Vs net carbs aren't really a thing this side of the pond. Disclaimer - I am writing this post with a glass of wine (completely useless carb) beside me, so make of it what you will.

While you're in the active phase of weight loss post op IMO you should be minimising carbs. If you're not quite full after your Protein and veg then have a little more veg. Or protein. Carbs are what make people fat - what made US fat.

There are NO essential carbs (there ARE essential amino acids - i.e. protein - AND essential fatty acids - ie fats). Nobody needs refined carbohydrate to survive. If you absolutely have to incorporate carbs into your diet while still losing then keep them healthy. Carby veg, fruit, oatmeal, wholemeal bread/crackers, wholemeal Pasta, brown rice, etc.

You look amazing and I hope you feel amazing. Is this your second procedure or am I remembering wrong? If so you're the poster girl for that. Fab photo - congratulations!

No personal experience of travel in South America but I've had loads of holidays whilst on my post op diet. Honestly if you stick to Protein first, veg second and carbs last (by a long way) I think you can travel anywhere in the world. I hope you really enjoy your vacay.

Your experience is totally within normal limits of loss OP!

I know you'll be reading the posts here of others who have lost really slowly but still reached or exceeded their goal. I lost really steadily but most of us don't.

If you stick to your programme you will lose lots more. I did, and my last few months saw me lose 1 or 2lbs max per month - still a loss! Keep the faith.

Calculates me at 182 at 18 months. Which I would have been thrilled with. Even more thrilled to get lower but honestly I had not *that* much of a say in it. My body kind of decided. 🤩

Looks yum as always. I had a crap day at work today so am eating a handful of Doritos and sour cream dip. Yes I am weak in moments of crisis. Normal service will be resumed tomorrow.

OK so I have no experience with this because I have no interest at all in skin removal. WLS was, for me, all about the health benefits and way less about the aesthetic benefits but I totally get people who want both (and OMG see the photos on the before and after threads for detail and inspiration)!

From what I have gleaned in my 2.5 years here people's weight loss is in the single pounds category after skin removal surgery. Unless you started off in the 60s or 70s of BMI? The point isn't the added pounds of loss but more the making their bodies feel more comfortable to them.

I am also a huge believer in the concept of a new 'set weight' after surgery. Our bodies just seem to decide where to settle. Pushing beyond that is tricky. I would have been happy 15 or 20lbs above where I am at the minute. I didn't particularly push myself to get beyond that. But it feels like my set weight was decided by my body. I know that sounds strange.

You talk about feeling happy at your current weight plus or minus the weight you might be after removal of skin and whether losing a few pounds more might cause sag that you would have to address at a later point. Honestly I don't really understand that but I guess others will be along soon who might. It might be worth discussing in detail with your surgeon what your desired end point is.

Congratulations on your loss, it's amazing.

Hi OP, can you share some info and stats please so we can target our replies? Are you pre or post op? What's your surgery? Etc.

Sugar is the devil as far as I'm concerned these days. Yes there are (limited) times when I invite the devil in - Easter most recently - but as a general rule I try to avoid both sugar and sugar substitutes as much as I can. They are what made me obese in the first place.

Whole foods are your friends and always will be. Protein, veg, fruit. Carbs once you have space or are at your goal weight.

I think the title of your thread says it all. There is such a wealth of experience on this forum.

I started from a different place but so do all of us. I hope you can take this very scary step to change your life for the better. If you have specific concerns please say and someone here will have the answer.

53 minutes ago, The Greater Fool said:

It's your body, you can count whatever you d*** well please.

You are on your own track. No one else has ever been on your track.

If your medical team has an idea of "on track" then they are comparing your track to everyone else's tracks. That's their issue, not yours.

Comparison sucks the joy from life.

Good luck,

Tek

Absolutely this, if your head will allow it. Tek is wise.

But - as a fellow traveller who wanted to know what *everyone* here had lost at *every* stage in order to compare my loss to theirs and angst a bit (head thing!!!) you are doing so very well. My stats are available on request but you've lost 8 BMI points in the matter of a few months. You've got this 😍

I have now relaxed a bit, 2.5 years post surgery. I do still like to compare myself to others though because I'm that type of human. Totally in awe (and I really really mean that) of all the people who can walk their own road glancing neither right nor left. That's the absolute dream and the path to Nirvana.

I totally understand this. It's not a bad thing AT ALL to step away from the scales if they aren't helping you.

Honestly - if you stick to your plan you will lose more weight than you have already - much more. The issue is that the loss is never linear. If you get stressed by stalls and regains then maybe weigh yourself once a month and Celebrate your losses then. I was and am a daily weigher but I could tolerate the highs and lows associated with that.

Yes - the food volumes we can tolerate increase in the months and years after surgery. If you focus on a diet of Protein and veggies you're not likely to go too far wrong.

Wow a 6 month prep seems so long. Hard to stay motivated, I totally agree.

You're clearly eating what you should be because you've lost more than you need for your surgeon.

Honestly if I had a 6 month run into surgery I would have accelerated my adherence to the programme in the 6 or 8 weeks before the date itself.

Agree with the others - Celebrate your non scale victories (although you totally have scale victories too)! Look at where you are now compared to where you were 3 months ago. And then visualise where you will be once you have your surgery.

It's hard to stick to any eating plan for 6 months. I wish you all the best.

That's a really good tip. I carry foil in my bag all the time but not everything can be wrapped efficiently in that. Deffo gonna bring my own take out box in future - I have so many. Thanks OP!

Plateaus and regains are part of the journey for most of us. Weight loss is not linear - it's ups and downs and side to sides and all other possible bumps in the road. If you stick to your programme then you will lose - lots.

I totally understand your frustration - we all go through it. You'll be fine 😍

16 hours ago, kristieshannon said:

I’m almost 5 years out as well and am still cold all the time. I get teased at work about all the layers I wear. I have a heated throw blanket at home that I use whenever I’m reading or watching TV and have a heated mattress pad on my bed.

Yesss! Could not survive without my electric blanket in bed. I keep it on low all night, other than on the warmest nights (we have very few here ,LOL).

OMG old soul in a young body? Hilarious! 😂

On 4/2/2024 at 4:24 AM, Arabesque said:

It’s about making the best choices you can in the situation you’re in & try to keep to your portion sizes. Recently I had a couple of takeaways with my brother’s family. Fish & chips - I ordered grilled fish & salad, dressing on the side. Vietnamese - prawn & noodle salad but left the noodles. I’ve ordered wrapless wraps in the past where I literally get served the wrap filling.And steamed gyoza or dumplings & eaten the filling only. Don’t forget to ask to take your left overs home. If you don’t eat them over subsequent days, someone in your family will - lol!

Most places will make allowances to some point. Maybe you can order just the sides (salads or vegetables or eggs). Appetisers are usually the best for appropriate portion size but if those choices aren’t great maybe you could share a main meal with whoever you’re out with. Soups are always are great go to as well.

And if the best choices really aren’t anywhere near best, don’t beat yourself up. Tomorrow is another day. As long as it doesn’t become a regular occurrence you’ll be fine. You can’t always control every aspect of your life.

Absolutely this. Knowledge is power. Scan the menu, make your best selection and then only eat what you want or need to when it arrives.